International Baccalaureate

Diploma Programme Subject Brief

Sciences: Computer science
First assessment 2025

The Diploma Programme (DP) is a rigorous pre-university course of study designed for students in the
16 to 19 age range. It is a broad-based two-year course that aims to encourage students to be
knowledgeable and inquiring, but also caring and compassionate. There is a strong emphasis
on encouraging students to develop intercultural understanding, open‑mindedness, and
the attitudes necessary for them to respect and evaluate a range of points of view.
The course is presented as six academic areas enclosing a central core. Students
study two modern languages (or a modern language and a classical language),
ah­ umanities or social science subject, an experimental science, mathematics
and one of the creative arts. Instead of an arts subject, students can choose two
subjects from another area. It is this comprehensive range of subjects that makes
the Diploma Programme a demanding course of study designed to prepare
students effectively for university entrance. In each of the academic areas students
have flexibility in making their choices, which means they can choose subjects
that particularly interest them and that they may wish to study further at university.
Normally, three subjects (and not more than four) are taken at higher level (HL), and
the others are taken at standard level (SL). The IB recommends 240 teaching hours for HL
subjects and 150 hours for SL. Subjects at HL are studied in greater depth and breadth than
at SL. In addition, three core elements—the extended essay, theory of knowledge and creativity,
activity, service—are compulsory and central to the philosophy of the programme.

I. Course description and aims

Computer science requires an understanding of the fundamental concepts of computational thinking
as well as knowledge of how computers and other digital devices operate.

The DP computer science course is engaging, accessible, inspiring and rigorous. It has the following
characteristics.

The course:
• draws on a wide spectrum of knowledge
• enables and empowers innovation, exploration and the acquisition of further knowledge
• raises ethical issues
• and is underpinned by computational thinking.

Computational thinking involves the ability to:

• think procedurally, logically, concurrently, abstractly and recursively
• utilize an experimental and inquiry-based approach to problem solving
• develop algorithms and express them clearly
• appreciate how theoretical and practical limitations affect the extent to which problems can be
solved computationally.

During the course students will develop a computational solution. This will involve the ability to:
• identify a problem or unanswered question
• design, prototype, program and test a proposed solution
• liaise with clients and end users to evaluate the success of the proposed solution and make
recommendations for future developments.

© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2022

International Baccalaureate® | Baccalauréat International® | Bachillerato Internacional®
The course aims to enable students to:
1. develop conceptual understanding that allows connections to be made between different areas of
the subject, and to other DP sciences subjects
2. acquire and apply a body of knowledge, methods, tools and techniques that characterize computer
science
3. develop the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesize information and claims relating to technological
systems
4. develop the ability to approach unfamiliar situations with creativity and resilience
5. design, model and implement solutions to local and global problems to meet the requirements of
clients, users and systems
6. develop an appreciation of the possibilities and limitations of computer science
7. develop the ability to evaluate the impact of emerging technologies on a range of stakeholders
8. develop the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively
9. develop awareness of the ethical, environmental, economic, cultural, and social impact of computer
science
10. develop a critical awareness and understanding of threats to computer systems and their
countermeasures.

II. Curriculum model overview

Recommended teaching
hours
Syllabus component SL HL
Syllabus content 105 195
A. Systems in theory 38 79
B. Systems in practice 47 85
C. Systems in context 20 31

Practical programme 45 45
Computational solution report 35 35
Practical application of skills through the development of
a computational solution

Collaborative sciences project 10 10

Total teaching hours 150 240

III. Assessment model

There are four assessment objectives for the DP computer science course. Having followed the DP
computer science course, students will be expected to meet the following objectives.
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
a. facts, concepts, principles and terminology
b. appropriate methods, techniques and technology
c. methods of communicating and presenting technological information.

2. Apply and use:

a. facts, concepts, principles and terminology
b. software design methodology, techniques and technology
c. methods of communicating and presenting technological information.
2 © International Baccalaureate Organization, 2022
International Baccalaureate® | Baccalauréat International® | Bachillerato Internacional®
3. Construct, analyse and evaluate:
a. user needs, system requirements, success criteria, system overview diagrams, testing
strategies and programs
b. appropriate techniques within a specified solution
c. data, information and technological explanations.

4. Demonstrate the appropriate research, development, programming, modelling and

personal skills necessary to carry out effective problem solving when developing a solution.

Assessment at a glance
Time
(Weighting of final grade)
Type of assessment Format of assessment SL HL
External 2 hours 4 hours
45 minutes (80%)
(70%)
Paper 1 A problem-solving paper that includes 1 hour 2 hours
questions requiring the reading, 15 minutes (40%)
understanding, interpretation and writing of (35%)
code in Java or Python.
Paper 2 This paper focuses on applying theory and 1 hour 2 hours
practice to real-world contexts, and includes 30 minutes (40%)
a structured question framed by a given (35%)
technology context.
Internal 45 hours 45 hours
(30%) (20%)

Computational An individual computational solution 35 hours 35 hours

solution report development project. (30%) (20%)
Students produce a report that details the
development of a computational solution
following the software development life cycle
(SDLC) process.

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International Baccalaureate® | Baccalauréat International® | Bachillerato Internacional®
 IV. Sample questions
Paper 1
When presented with code used by a company to assist the organisation of a music festival.
• State the relationship between the classes “Festival” and “Artist”.
• Construct the code required to create the linked list “ticketsSold” which is declared in the
“Festival” main class.
• Explain one reason why a singly linked list would be used rather than a doubly linked list.
Paper 2
When presented with a scenario about software that uses sentiment analysis and autonomous trading
agents.
• Identify two features of agile development.
• Justify the choice of either polling or interrupts as a means of notifying the central computer that
an input device has recorded a conversation that is ready for analysis.
• Evaluate one positive and one negative consequence on society of using autonomous trading
agents.

About the IB: For over 50 years, the IB has built a reputation for high-quality, challenging programmes of education
that develop internationally minded young people who are well prepared for the challenges of life in the 21st
century and are able to contribute to creating a better, more peaceful world.

For further information on the IB Diploma Programme, visit: https://ibo.org/en/dp.

Complete subject guides can be accessed through the programme resource centre or purchased through the
IB store: https://www.ibo.org/new-store.
For more on how the DP prepares students for success at university, visit: https://ibo.org/en/university-admission.